Allardyce: Schools are pivotal

13 September 2013 09:01

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Sam Allardyce feels Football Association chairman Greg Dyke's plans for world domination will only succeed on the back of a healthy and thriving schools programme.

Dyke last week highlighted the dangers with regard to the growing number of overseas players, suggesting measures were urgently needed to ensure England could again be successful on the international stage, with victory in the 2022 World Cup his main target.

He described the English game as a "tanker which needs turning", believing everyone involved in football in England has a duty to reverse what he sees as "a frightening trend".

Dyke's words have so far been met with a favourable reaction from club managers, but words and deeds are undeniably two different things.

From West Ham boss Allardyce's perspective, there are a number of factors which naturally inhibit managers at present.

"There is a definite need to say to ourselves 'What do we want to do?'" said Allardyce.

"As an Englishman, you are always passionate about the England team and always will be, so you want to see as many top English players develop as you can.

"Unfortunately, as managers, we can't control all of that. It has to come from everybody in this country to be willing enough to develop young players until the system changes.

"Most of the research will tell you for the last 10 or 15 years that we have not had enough time.

"Without enough time we will not achieve the ultimate goal, and that is time in the club, or time at school, developing young talented people."